As a young Amish boy at age 7, I was turned loose with my own team of horses to plow the fields 

[eliyoder]

Child labor is something I will never regret because it made me who I am today with a strong solid work ethic and that is one thing I will always appreciate about the Amish culture

[jonnyw]

7yo Amish kids are more responsible than 18yo English kids

[blitzkrueg]

I Grew up on a farm. Working as child on the farm I never thought it as work. It was time spent with my brothers and father. Everyday we learned something new whether it was how to fix machinery or welding. Loved every day on the farm.

[gerikinnaman]

I helped garden, did the laundry, mowed the yard, fed the horses, helped put up hay. All part of living in the country and having animals and having a large garden. We also butchered our own meat. Put up food for the winter.
Instilled a work ethic that helped me throughout my career. Even now as retired with health issues, I try to go until I'm worn out.
Kids can learn from an early age to work. Picking up toys starts it off! ❤❤❤

[gailpark]

My 89 year old dad grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa. He tells about driving the horse-drawn hay wagon at age 6 or 7. He remembers the hardest part was going at the right pace. He was also helping milk the cows by hand at that age before they got their milking parlor with the machines.

[justinrad]

That's one thing about the Amish community that I give praise for is that they teach children from a young age the meaning of hard work. I personally think it's great that they do this. I think it helps children for when they get older to be more respectful and hard-working.

[callmeizzy]

Farm kids always learn to work hard at a young age. I am really enjoying your stories..

[gailwagner]

There are several of us here in the real world has you call it that had those lessons early as well usually due to poverty.. in my case I was babysitting siblings on my own for long lengths of time by 9 years old including an infant. By 13 I was emancipated and living on my own paying my own bills.. it's not unheard of it's just not common. I also lied to be able to get a job because I had to pay rent so I said I was 16 (back then you could get away with it) and by the time I was actually 16 I was manager!! There's nothing wrong with hard work ❤️

[christopherstube]

When i was 10 and went visiting a school friend on his dairy farm, we worked with the family group milking and i learned to drive the old pickup around the field while my friend cut bales and kicked them off the back to feed the cows who always followed us. His father would put it in gear since i could not reach the pedals, but it was fun for us to accomplish our tasks. And the grownups always knew what we were doing.

[allywolf]

🤣 oh my mom used us as child labor...gardener, maid, cook, laundry (clothesline only) I chopped wood after school every day until dark. Dug all the holes to bury the dead animals. Not Amish. Just Appalachian

[scottyellis]

I couldn't imagine a 7 year old boy of today's world having that kinda responsibility.
When I was "7, 8, 9, somewhere around there, I was in the tobacco fields. I'm not Amish but did grow up on a farm. But that was 1974. Times change.

[susieedminster]

You have every reason to feel accomplished! As a little boy you worked hard. You are def right, different cultures have different "wrongs"

[twinkietaurus]

I was a farm kid too. It's not specific to the Amish.😂 I thought all kids had jobs. Gave me good work ethic

[Schadel_der_Schatten]

It taught you a strong work ethic.

My dad had me driving a tractor before I was in kindergarten.

[gordonw]

You weren't forced to it you were raised with morals and values that made you want to work hard and be a big strong man. Then when you're ready you'll have your own family, farm and good, clean living.

[watsonwatsonwatson]

7 is the number of Biblical Restoration. Love the stories you tell. Thanks and Jesus is God. 🙏🏻 Amen

[prestoncox]

I grew up English and of the "world", but I'm so glad my parents taught me a strong work ethic and it didn't matter how old I was. When i was 3 my grandfather had ne picking up pine cones from the lawn so he could mow, when i was 7 I was responsible for mowing my own yard. When i was about 10 my dad started taking me to job sites, he built and worked on cellphone towers, with him to pick up trash, and gophers tools and materials. Abput the same time is when he bought me my first mechanical "toys/projects". By the time I was 12, I could do all his "chores" in his absence when he was away from home working to provide. I'm almost 30 now, and self employed about to buy my first homestead cash and debt free

[Mewhenifinalltgetallthebugs]

It's so cute that kids always wanna do what their older brother is doing. I see that with my nephews. Some things never change

[__seeker__]

That’s definitely something I like about the Amish. Everyone used to be like that with regards to kids, except the very wealthy. Kids weren’t overly coddled and were given a lot of responsibilities. Their abilities were trusted. It helps children grow up and gives them a sense of value and self respect.

[deirdrecorey]

I think it's GREAT to give kids jobs. It gives them confidence. Look how proud you were, I like farm life for kids...